Nasturtiums

They’ll take over your garden

They’ll grow like the wind

Plant them just once

And they’ll grow again and again

Old English Rhyme – written by Dave Hamilton Sept 2008

Nasturtiums are often over looked as a food source but in a bad year on an allotment they can really come into their own.  The flowers and leaves can be used in salads the buds can be blanched then pickled in vinegar for use as capers and as I’ve found the leaves can make quite a tasty pesto.

140g Nasturtium leaves – blanched for 30 seconds in boiling water, then refreshed in cold water

7 tablespoons of Olive oil

3 tablespoons of toasted pine nuts

25-50g- Parmesan  (optional)

2-4 cloves of garlic (depending on taste)

In a coffee grinder or pestle and mortar grind the toasted pine nuts and garlic

Place the resulting mixture in a food processor along with the remaining ingredients and mix!